Sport Witness

On Wednesday, we covered claims from Spain which stated Barcelona believe they have the situation with Andrei Ratiu under control amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

Thursday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo states the La Liga side have the 26-year-old on their radar and also mention Tottenham’s interest.

The right-back impressed for Romania at the Euro 2024 and also for Rayo Vallecano this season, making 11 league appearances so far.

This has seen him arouse interest from other clubs including Tottenham, Barca, AS Roma, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen. The newspaper focuses on the Catalan club and explains why Barcelona feel they would be ahead of Spurs and other clubs in the transfer race.

The Romania international is represented by Spanish agent Leaderbrock Sports, who also manages Barca midfielder Pedri.

Pedri is close to signing a new deal at the Camp Nou and his agent recently met Barcelona sporting director Deco for the renewal. During this meeting, the pair also talked about the Tottenham target.

This gives Hansi Flick’s side the upperhand over others, as long as they make a firm effort to acquire his signature.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Richarlison has struggled with injuries this season, limiting his game time to 173 minutes from seven matches.

The forward picked up an injury at the end of August and returned to action against West Ham United in October. Earlier this month, he suffered another setback in Tottenham’s win over Aston Villa.

Ange Postecoglou had stated the 27-year-old suffered a hamstring injury and Trivela now provide more on his setback.

Earlier claims from England had indicated the former Everton man will be out of action for around four weeks.

Trivela claim the Brazil international has a muscle injury on his right thigh, but there’s no damage to his tendon. They add these sorts of injuries generally take two to six weeks to recover from, but that isn’t the case with the Tottenham player.

It’s claimed the attacker’s injury appears to be ‘more serious than initially anticipated’ and he’s ‘unlikely to play’ again for Tottenham this year. Trivela claim they got this information from the north London club’s medical team.

There’s a possibility for Richarlison to recover this year, but Spurs won’t rush him back in order to avoid any further setbacks. Therefore, the South American is expected to return to the pitch in 2025.

Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona are in the picture to sign Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Rati.

The right-back moved to the La Liga side in August 2023 and his game time [628 minutes in the league] was restricted last season. He’s enjoyed regular minutes this season and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

Fichajes.net previously reported Real Madrid are showing interest in Tottenham defender Pedro Porro and this has seen the north London club identify Ratiu as a target.

Valencia are also interested in Ratiu, but Ange Postecoglou’s side joining the chase would make it complicated for Los Ches, considering their finances.

The outlet states Spurs can offer the 26-year-old an opportunity to continue his growth in the Premier League. The defender has a €25m clause, but his side are in favouring on negotiating a deal for a lower price.

Over at Marca, they discuss Barcelona’s attempts to sign the Romania international. Jules Koundé has impressed as a right-back, while the Catalan club are searching the market for a new player in that position.

The focus is on Ratiu, and they have already initiated contacts for a potential deal. The Tottenham target has a €25m release clause and Barca believe they can seal the deal for a lower price because Rayo Vallecano have to improve their finances.

Marca claim Barcelona aren’t the only one as clubs from England, Italy and Germany are also keen on signing the fullback. Only Napoli are mentioned, while Tottenham are said to be his suitor from the Premier League.

Despite interest from Tottenham and others, Barcelona believe they have the Ratiu case ‘under control’.

Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona are in the picture to sign Rayo Vallecano’s Andrei Rati.

The right-back moved to the La Liga side in August 2023 and his game time [628 minutes in the league] was restricted last season. He’s enjoyed regular minutes this season and his performances haven’t gone unnoticed.

Fichajes.net previously reported Real Madrid are showing interest in Tottenham defender Pedro Porro and this has seen the north London club identify Ratiu as a target.

Valencia are also interested in Ratiu, but Ange Postecoglou’s side joining the chase would make it complicated for Los Ches, considering their finances.

The outlet states Spurs can offer the 26-year-old an opportunity to continue his growth in the Premier League. The defender has a €25m clause, but his side are in favouring on negotiating a deal for a lower price.

Over at Marca, they discuss Barcelona’s attempts to sign the Romania international. Jules Koundé has impressed as a right-back, while the Catalan club are searching the market for a new player in that position.

The focus is on Ratiu, and they have already initiated contacts for a potential deal. The Tottenham target has a €25m release clause and Barca believe they can seal the deal for a lower price because Rayo Vallecano have to improve their finances.

Marca claim Barcelona aren’t the only one as clubs from England, Italy and Germany are also keen on signing the fullback. Only Napoli are mentioned, while Tottenham are said to be his suitor from the Premier League.

Despite interest from Tottenham and others, Barcelona believe they have the Ratiu case ‘under control’.

Real Madrid are continuing to watch Tottenham’s Pedro Porro and are ‘hot on his trail’ at this moment in time.

That’s according to Sport, who say the Tottenham defender’s continued moment in the spotlight under Ange Postecoglou isn’t going unnoticed.

They say Porro has been ‘crying out for more recognition’ for several seasons thanks to the fact he’s been ‘shining’ for Tottenham since his arrival there.

His role in the win over Manchester City last weekend only amplified his growing reputation, demonstrating how he’s a ‘full-back with the soul of a winger or a striker’.

No other defender has contributed more goals in the league than him since his arrival at Tottenham, and he even surpasses the other full-back Madrid have their eye on, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

He was the ‘star of the show’ in that 4-0 win as far as Sport are concerned, putting in an ‘extraordinary performance’ that added to his stats as well as his status.

They say Real Madrid are ‘keeping a close eye’ on his performances and his development as the right back spot is the one that urgently needs to be strengthened.

Porro may be the ideal solution, and the hype is certainly growing, particularly when he’s performing as he did against Manchester City.

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the latest clubs to be credited with an interest in Hammarby IF’s Bazoumana Touré.

Sky Deutschland journalist Sarah Wieczorek took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to state that Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig and VfL Wolfsburg are all looking at the winger.

The Bundesliga trio will have to be wary of the competition from the Premier League. She claims ‘there is interest from England’ as Arsenal and Tottenham are the clubs monitoring the 18-year-old.

Wieczorek’s colleague at Sky, Patrick Berger, also took to X, to state Touré is a ‘player to watch’.

The Swedish club signed the attacker from Ivorian side ASEC Mimosas in March and he managed nine goals and four assists from 23 league games for them.

Berger claims his fine displays have ‘aroused interest’ from top clubs and mentions Bayer Leverkusen, RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg, Arsenal and Tottenham.

Hammarby manager Kim Hellberg has backed Touré to make a switch to England, where he’s also wanted by Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, West Ham United and Brighton & Hove Albion. There’s been claims of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United’s interest.

On November 19th, Fotboll Direkt reported the Ivorian’s transfer to England is the winter market is ‘underway’.

Three days later, the same outlet stated multiple claims have signalled their willingness to make an offer for him in January. It was also reported Hammarby are ready to sell him for SEK 100m [€8.6m].

These claims indicated a January move could be on the cards, and Arsenal and Tottenham have joined the chase for the sought-after player.

Back in July, Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal with Gangwon FC for Yang Min-hyeok to arrive at the Premier League side in January 2025.

The 18-year-old won the football category at South Korea’s 2024 Futures Star Awards and then spoke to the reporters about his future move to Tottenham. His comments are relayed by Nate.

Yang Min-hyeok joined the South Korean club in January and managed 12 goals and six assists from 38 games.

Recent claims have stated he’s expected to move to Tottenham next month and this has now been confirmed by the winger.

“There are a lot of injuries at Tottenham. I’m also at risk of injury after playing a season. They asked me to come and recover,” he said.

The youngster has mixed emotions on leaving the K League 1 side for Spurs and aims to quickly find his feet in the English capital.

“I feel relieved because I feel like I’m finishing well at Gangwon. I feel sad and sad about leaving,” Yang Min-hyeok explained.

“At the beginning of the season, I was thinking, ‘When will it be over?’ But it’s gone by so fast. It’s just the beginning, so it’s going to fly by. I’m looking forward to working harder and establishing myself quickly.”

Kado are also reporting the South Korean was initially scheduled to move to Tottenham in January, but the club [likely Spurs] have requested he join earlier.

They have also relayed more comments from the player about the need to improve his physicality and English to adapt quickly at his new club.

“I joined the team in the middle of the season, so my main focus is to recover my body. I’m also studying English hard, and I haven’t been in touch with [Son] Heung Min yet, but I’ll have to ask him a lot of questions. I’m also planning to ask [Yang] Hyun Joon for advice on adjusting to life in England,” he added.

Yang Min-hyeok has the clear goal of succeeding in the Premier League with Spurs.

“My first goal is to survive in the Premier League for a long time. I would be ashamed of myself if I came back to the K League quickly. I plan to improve my physical condition as much as possible and work hard to adapt to the team,” the incoming Tottenham player said.

Back in July, Tottenham Hotspur agreed a deal with Gangwon FC for Yang Min-hyeok to arrive at the Premier League side in January 2025.

The 18-year-old won the football category at South Korea’s 2024 Futures Star Awards and then spoke to the reporters about his future move to Tottenham. His comments are relayed by Nate.

Yang Min-hyeok joined the South Korean club in January and managed 12 goals and six assists from 38 games.

Recent claims have stated he’s expected to move to Tottenham next month and this has now been confirmed by the winger.

“There are a lot of injuries at Tottenham. I’m also at risk of injury after playing a season. They asked me to come and recover,” he said.

The youngster has mixed emotions on leaving the K League 1 side for Spurs and aims to quickly find his feet in the English capital.

“I feel relieved because I feel like I’m finishing well at Gangwon. I feel sad and sad about leaving,” Yang Min-hyeok explained.

“At the beginning of the season, I was thinking, ‘When will it be over?’ But it’s gone by so fast. It’s just the beginning, so it’s going to fly by. I’m looking forward to working harder and establishing myself quickly.”

Kado are also reporting the South Korean was initially scheduled to move to Tottenham in January, but the club [likely Spurs] have requested he join earlier.

They have also relayed more comments from the player about the need to improve his physicality and English to adapt quickly at his new club.

“I joined the team in the middle of the season, so my main focus is to recover my body. I’m also studying English hard, and I haven’t been in touch with [Son] Heung Min yet, but I’ll have to ask him a lot of questions. I’m also planning to ask [Yang] Hyun Joon for advice on adjusting to life in England,” he added.

Yang Min-hyeok has the clear goal of succeeding in the Premier League with Spurs.

“My first goal is to survive in the Premier League for a long time. I would be ashamed of myself if I came back to the K League quickly. I plan to improve my physical condition as much as possible and work hard to adapt to the team,” the incoming Tottenham player said.

Sergio Reguilón is facing yet another crossroads in his career with his Tottenham Hotspur contract expiring in June 2025.

Ange Postecoglou appears to have no room for the Spaniard and it was almost certainly a mistake that the fullback didn’t look for a way out in the summer window.

Since joining Tottenham in 2020 the 27-year-old has had loans spells at Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Brentford. None of those clubs appeared to make serious moves for a permanent transfer.

The Spanish media has been linking Reguilón to multiple La Liga sides, with another new name thrown into the mix every few days or so.

One of the clubs said to be keen to take the player from Tottenham, potentially in January in a cut-price or free deal, is Osasuna.

However, the club themselves have moved to rubbish the claims. Estadio Deportivo say they’ve spoken to sources at Osasuna who told them the club has no intention of moving for Reguilón in January.

The first reason given is that they have no plans to sign anyone in January anyway. The second reason is that they already have two left-backs in their squad don’t need another one.

Tottenham Hotspur loaned out Bryan Gil to Girona in the summer, as the player sought more first-team football.

Since his arrival in Spain, the winger has played 16 times in all competitions and has now scored three goals and added three assists.

Against Espanyol at the weekend, Gil was on fire for Girona, scoring once and setting up two goals, helping his side pick up a 4-1 win at home.

Spanish newspaper Sport have hailed it a ‘spectacular performance’ from the Tottenham loanee, noting how he constantly tore the Espanyol defence to shreds.

They state that the 23-year-old didn’t care about who stood in his way, as his only intention was to ‘break’ whoever was denying him.

The newspaper expresses the belief that Gil never really settled in at Tottenham due to instability… and stability is apparently what he needs. That is exactly what Girona are providing him and that is what manager Michel had promised him.

The Spanish club’s manager now sees the player as a key weapon for his system and is a fan of his verticality and incisive approach in the final third.

Gil has had purple patches repeatedly on his loan moves and the key now will be turning that into consistent good form across the rest of the season.